Mountain Sky Return To In Person Learning Center As you know the Washington Elementary school District has been moving towards a return to in person learning. We thank all of you who took the opportunity to place your preference and then confirm or change that preference. As related in all of the WESD outdials, the measures in the WESD communities have remained in the yellow long enough that we are moving cautiously into a Hybrid Model, rather than a Full Traditional model. For those who responded that you would want to return to in person, that means your student will be joining us in person after the Fall Break in a Hybrid Model. The Hybrid Model is designed to maintain safety for student and staff through several mitigating procedures. 1. Hybrid Schedules Cutting the number of students in half by creating a group A and group B. That means Group A would attend in person classes on Mondays and Thursdays. Group B would attend in person classes Tuesdays and Fridays. While not in school in person, students will be completing independent work for their classes. On Wednesdays both groups would attend classes virtually. We will be activating schedules in ParentVue and StudentVue early next week. We have been given the A and B groupings from our district office based on several criteria, including keeping siblings on the same days even if they are in another WESD school. Group A Students in Group A will attend in person classes Mondays and Thursdays starting October 19. They will attend their advisory on online on Tuesday and Friday for their daily attendance and then complete work assigned by their teachers during the in person sessions the days before. Group B Students in Group B will attend in person classes Tuesdays and Fridays starting October 20. They will attend their advisory on online on Monday and Thursday for their daily attendance and then complete work assigned by their teachers during the in person sessions the days before. All students will have a Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Elective. Students will rotate among those classes in a five period day. The classes were moved to be close in proximity, in order to limit movement about the building to areas and allow groups of student to reduce their exposure to other students. 2. Important requirements for in person While on campus all students will be required to wear proper fitting masks, maintain social distancing, and wash hands regularly. We will be placing more information about our social distancing procedures on our website. 3. COVID-19 Parental Acknowledgment – Disclosure Before attending in person, parents must check ParentVue to read and acknowledge the in person procedures and policies. If you have not acknowledged the 2020-21 Parent Student Handbook agreement, you must complete that first. 4. School hours School will begin at 8:55 a.m. and dismiss at 4:00 p.m. Gates and entrances will open after 8:30 a.m. Students will be screened at the perimeter (temperature check, questions regarding current health conditions – fever, cough, etc.). Students, who have a 100.4 temperature or higher, or respond ‘yes’ to any of the screening questions, will be taken to a private room until a parent can come and pick up the student. 5. Transportation For students riding the bus, WESD transportation services have sent letters to your address in our system. They should arrive in the next day or two with bus stop times and locations. 6. Technology In order to complete assignments during the independent workdays and the Wednesday virtual days, students will need to bring charged Chromebooks back and forth. We ask that families make sure to provide a secure way for students to transport those items (for example a backpack). 7. Water bottles In order to mitigate exposure risks from touchpoints such as drinking fountain, students are asked to bring water bottles. We have been directed to turn off drinking fountains. We want students to stay hydrated. We very much look forward to seeing your student in person. We wish we were able to do more in person prior to opening, but we will do our best to prepare you through information on this page of our website. |
Announcements
WESD Elementary Schools Kindergarten Information Drive Thru
We love our Elementary School Feeder programs! The Washington Elementary School District is welcoming families with children ready for Kindergarten. January 26 from 4 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. families will be able to join a drive thru to pick up information regarding Kindergarten. Please see the information below regarding virtual tours, contact information, and more. |
Thunderbird High School Future Freshman Night Jan. 14 6:30 pm
Any 8th Grade students who will be attending Thunderbird High School next year are invited to attend the Virtual Future Freshman Night January 14, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. The link to the meeting will be on the Thunderbird High School website below. |
Thunderbird Honor Classes Presentation
For those unable to attend the Thunderbird High School Honors Orientation, here is a link to the information site. |
District Assessment Dates In November
In order to identify where students are with their learning, we are proctoring district assessments in November. The testing conditions are less than ideal, but it is important for us to get an idea of where student are with regard to State of Arizona Writing, Reading and Math Standards. Testing Dates: Writing
Nov. 4 ELA
Nov. 18 Math
Nov. 25 Details: On each testing day, students
will go to their online advisory. Then, their
teacher will set them up with the district
test. They will test for 75 minutes. Then,
they will continue to all of their classes on
a modified schedule. Required materials: Chromebook or
other computer
Makeup dates are available. During testing, students will be sent to
virtual troubleshooting rooms if they
have technical difficulties. If you have any questions please feel free to call the office : 602 896-6100 Testing Day Schedules - Wednesdays (Nov. 4, Nov. 18, Nov. 25) |
Mountain Sky Return To In Person Learning Center
Mountain Sky Return To In Person Learning Center As you know the Washington Elementary school District has been moving towards a return to in person learning. We thank all of you who took the opportunity to place your preference and then confirm or change that preference. As related in all of the WESD outdials, the measures in the WESD communities have remained in the yellow long enough that we are moving cautiously into a Hybrid Model, rather than a Full Traditional model. For those who responded that you would want to return to in person, that means your student will be joining us in person after the Fall Break in a Hybrid Model. The Hybrid Model is designed to maintain safety for student and staff through several mitigating procedures. Mountain Sky return to In person Learning Video Please watch this video for an explanation of the reopening procedures. Included is information about Safe practices ( the hybrid schedule, social distancing, face masks, cleaning procedures) Arrival and dismissal Restrooms Lunch and Breakfast and much more. 1. Hybrid Schedules Cutting the number of students in half by creating a group A and group B. That means Group A would attend in person classes on Mondays and Thursdays. Group B would attend in person classes Tuesdays and Fridays. While not in school in person, students will be completing independent work for their classes. On Wednesdays both groups would attend classes virtually. We will be activating schedules in ParentVue and StudentVue. All students will be given a copy of their schedule in their Homeroom Advisory class when they arrive. Here is the list of all advisory classes by student ID number. Advisory Class and Teacher Link Light Blue classrooms are Team 8BYellow classrooms are Team 7B Orange classrooms are Team 7A Note: the A or B designation is part of the historical Green classrooms are Team 8A team names, and not connected to the days of Purple classrooms are Team 7/8 C attendance. We have been given the A and B groupings from our district office based on several criteria, including keeping siblings on the same days even if they are in another WESD school. Group A Students in Group A will attend in person classes Mondays and Thursdays starting October 19. They will attend their advisory on online on Tuesday and Friday for their daily attendance and then complete work assigned by their teachers during the in person sessions the days before. Group B Students in Group B will attend in person classes Tuesdays and Fridays starting October 20. They will attend their advisory on online on Monday and Thursday for their daily attendance and then complete work assigned by their teachers during the in person sessions the days before. All students will have a Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Elective. Students will rotate among those classes in a five period day. The classes were moved to be close in proximity, in order to limit movement about the building to areas and allow groups of student to reduce their exposure to other students. 2. Important requirements for in person While on campus all students will be required to wear proper fitting masks, maintain social distancing, and wash hands regularly. We will be placing more information about our social distancing procedures on our website. 3. COVID-19 Parental Acknowledgment – Disclosure Before attending in person, parents must check ParentVue to read and acknowledge the in person procedures and policies. If you have not acknowledged the 2020-21 Parent Student Handbook agreement, you must complete that first. 4. School hours School will begin at 8:55 a.m. and dismiss at 4:00 p.m. Gates and entrances will open after 8:30 a.m. Students will be screened at the perimeter (temperature check, questions regarding current health conditions – fever, cough, etc.). Students, who have a 100.4 temperature or higher, or respond ‘yes’ to any of the screening questions, will be taken to a private room until a parent can come and pick up the student. 5. Transportation For students riding the bus, WESD transportation services have sent letters to your address in our system. They should arrive in the next day or two with bus stop times and locations. 6. Arrival to school during the Hybrid Model Please refer to the map below. Students will be screened at five locations. 1. Bike Rack, 2. Bus Bay, 3. Front Gate, 4. Greenway drop off, and 5. Front office - for late arriving students only. 7. Technology In order to complete assignments during the independent workdays and the Wednesday virtual days, students will need to bring charged Chromebooks back and forth. We ask that families make sure to provide a secure way for students to transport those items (for example a backpack). 8. Water bottles In order to mitigate exposure risks from touchpoints such as drinking fountain, students are asked to bring water bottles. We have been directed to turn off drinking fountains. We want students to stay hydrated. We very much look forward to seeing your student in person. We wish we were able to do more in person prior to opening, but we will do our best to prepare you through information on this page of our website. 9. Hybrid Times As you look at the following schedule remember Mountain Sky is grouped into academic teams normally. 7A F.I.R.E., 7B S.T.A.R.S., 8A W.I.N.G.S., and 8B Talons. Please do not confuse the team names with the A and B with days. They are not related. I order to accommodate many needs and distancing numbers, we created a fifth team, just for this time period. That team is a combination of 7and 8 students. We are calling them "C" team as they are in building C and it works with the previous A and B team names. This schedule is for both A and B days. On Wednesdays, the classes will all be on line. Here is that schedule. Teachers will share with their students on Day A and B how to connect to those classes. For students who will be continuing with the extended learning model. Teachers will be contacting you soon. These are the times for classes. Students will not have 10 classes. They will only have their four core classes with many gaps between to complete assignments. |
Grab and Go Meal distribution change for Labor Day weekend
Parents please not the date change in the Grab and Go meal distribution from Monday to Tuesday, September 8. |
Mountain Sky Distance Learning Center (January 2021 Updated)
Shift back to Distance Learning January 2021 In response to the increase of cases of COVID within surrounding communities, the Washington Elementary School District has decided that all WESD school return to distance learning for all Hybrid students. We have greatly appreciated all of the students who have done their best to adhere to the safe practices while in the hybrid model. We are saddened by this new, but hope to continue to serve our students and work with the relationships we establish during the second quarter. Starting Monday, January 4, Mountain Sky will continue forward into as two schools: 1. Mountain Sky Online Virtual – students who chose to remain online for 3nd Quarter. Their schedules will remain the same and they will continue to attend classes online. This shift will mean little to no change for our students who have already remained online. 2. Mountain Sky Distance Learning – the students who have been in the hybrid model will move to online. The current hybrid schedule is built to shift from in person to online, so there should be minimal changes. Hybrid students will stay in the same schedule and classes. Their Google Meet times will adjust around the A and B groupings, similar to the first Quarter. Teachers will be sending Google Calendar invites through their Google Classrooms before Monday. Distance Learning Schedules We are still aware of the need to limit screen time for students, and provide small enough classes to ensure engagement online. To do this, the 65-minute Hybrid classes will be cut in half to allow for 30 minute A and B groups to attend daily all classes daily online. Keeping groups A and B means on screen time and class sizes are reduced. As in the first quarter, teachers will send Google invites to students to be part of Group A and B. See the schedule below. Student Support The three lunches scheduled in the Hybrid model will be condensed to one for the Distance Learning. The time saved will allow teachers to provide a half hour of student support at the end of the day. This will allow teachers to hold open meeting times. Students will be invited to attend support at the end of the day, or can join a meeting as needed. School Schedule School will begin at 8:55 a.m. and dismiss at 4:00 p.m. The schedule for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday is as follows: The Wednesday Distance Learning Schedule Online Group Attendance Mountain Sky will take period attendance. An outdial will be sent to parents after 10:30 for students who are not in attendance similar to a normal school year. Additionally, there will be a courtesy out dial sent at the end of the day to notify parents if a student had missed at least one period during the day. If a student will not be attending class online, for whatever reason, parents still need to call the attendance line to report the absence. (602) 896-6121. ParentVue, the School Website, the WESD Website We ask that parents continue to follow their student’s progress online through ParentVue. Through ParentVue, parents can see teachers’ gradebooks, their student’s attendance, and any announcements made by teachers. The school website and WESD Website will be used to convey all major developments. If you have questions about how to connect to ParentVue please call the office (602) 896-6100. There are a few important resources you should know as a parent. 1. The teacher directory from the Mountain Sky web page CLICK HERE There you can find teacher email addresses and Google site links. Those will allow you to contact teachers. 2. ParentVue or StudentVue CLICK HERE. Class schedules, grades, attendance, and messages are available through these valuable resources. 3. Google Classrooms - Your student will be sent an invitation to join each teacher's Google classroom. There they will find links to the virtual classes, assignments, and materials. 4. The Washington Elementary School District Website CLICK HERE. This site has parent resources which explain how to connect, food services, and tech. support. 5. This page which will continue to provide updates regarding resources - see the attached documents. 6. Attendance Line- 602 896-6121. Attendance will be taken for the day, so if you student will not be online for the day, please call them in absent. We will be reaching out to families and students to check on how they are doing. So if they are not called out absent, we will be checking with you if we are not seeing your student in attendance. 7. Our student support team - Please contact the following staff for social and emotional related concerns Karen Mull - Counselor (karen.mull@wesdschools.org) - mental health concerns Isaac Hurguy - Student Service Specialist (isaac.hurguy@wesdschools.org) - discipline, behavior concerns Erica Smith - Health Tech. (erica.smith@wesdschools.org) - physical/medical concerns Jodi Rudd - Achievement interventionist (jodi.rudd@wesdschools.org) - motivation, educational concerns Dede Weaver - Special Services Specialist (dede.weaver@wesdschools.org - special education concerns For Social Service Concerns - MS WESD Social Services Form 20-21 The Virtual School Day
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School Begins August 10 with ONLINE Learning
School will begin ONLINE Monday, August 10. To stay-up-to date about the WESD's reopening plan including weekly updates from Superintendent Dr. Paul Stanton, forthcoming information about Chromebook distribution, logistics related to student learning, student schedules, meals, etc., please go to the WESD’s Return to Learn Page. Frequently Asked Questions will be located here and updated as needed. If you’d like more information about the start of the school year, please email wesdcommserv@wesdschools.org or call 602-347-2600. Thank you. |
Course Selection Update
Parents, thank you for entering all of your requests for next year's courses. Information on reviewing these requests can be found here: |